CAPE MAY COUNTY PARK & ZOO is the fifth best reviewed zoo in the United States, according to TripAdvisor, and ranked number 13 in the world….that’s the whole wide world…coming in ahead of places like London, Beijing and Moscow. In 2015, the zoo also won a Traveler’s Choice Award, thanks in part to the favorable reviews from many visitors. The zoo opened in 1978; and the county park dates to the late 1940s.

There are lots of reasons why the Cape May County Park & Zoo is a must see attraction. Recently, a couple of baby snow leopards were born on May 19, 2017 and have been winning the hearts of residents and visitors alike. The babies, both girls, were named through a contest. And the winning names are—Ahana, meaning First Rays of Light, and Zara, meaning Princess. And here’s more good news—the Cape May County Park and Zoo will soon open a new primate exhibit.

Admission to the park and zoo is FREE. Parking? Free. Donations are accepted, encouraged and welcomed; some of the tours, picnic pavilions, etc. are fee-based. Both the park and zoo are open 364 days a year, weather permitting, and closed Christmas Day.

The zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is home to about 550 inhabitants representing about 250 species on 200 wooded acres and open space. There are two lions, Lex and Bella, and two Black Bears, brother and sister, named Roxy and Cody. The lions and bears have plenty of friends at the zoo including monkeys, tamarins and a wide population of birds, reptiles and amphibians. Giraffes – four of them – along with zebras and mountain bongos roam the African Savanna.

Guess what? Thirteen of Michael Jackson’s Chilean flamingos from his Neverland Ranch live at the zoo. The birds live outside in the Flamingo Yard in the summer and inside at the World of Birds during cooler weather. And if they don’t eat their shrimp and other crustaceans, they just might lose their pink color. The park has two giant playgrounds with a Hummingbird Express train ride for the little ones or enjoy the wildlife carousel or take the challenge of the 35-foot rock climbing wall.

Into fitness? The Park’s outdoor fitness center has 12 different stations – chin-up bars, push-up and sit-up platforms plus low-to- the- ground balance beams. Maintained in their natural state are winding trails popular among hikers, bikers, joggers, and wildlife watchers. And there’s golf – well it’s Frisbee golf, so instead of a club and a ball, players use a disc or a Frisbee and throw it from the tee area to a basket which is the “hole.” Across Route 9 from the zoo there are tennis and basketball courts plus baseball and softball fields.

For a quick snack or a full meal stop by the Safari Café, open seasonally. And, of course, there’s a gift shop and a photo booth.

Hours of Operation:The Park and Zoo are open every day except Christmas (weather permitting) and may have extended hours for special events.